Watauga Lake

Boat Ramps: 15
Access Points: 26
Species: 17

Nestled in the picturesque mountains of northeastern Tennessee, Watauga Lake is a pristine 6,400-acre reservoir with over 100 miles of shoreline. This beautiful body of water is part of the Cherokee National Forest and consistently ranks among the Bassmaster Top 100 bass lakes in the USA. Known for its clear waters and stunning mountain backdrop, Watauga Lake offers exceptional fishing opportunities for anglers of all skill levels year-round. The lake was formed in 1948 by impounding the Watauga River and features dramatic water level fluctuations of up to 44 feet between summer full pool and winter drawdown periods.

Tennessee licenses and regulations4 to check before you go

Species & education

Learn what type of fish are at Watauga Lake and what's needed to catch them.

Find which waters have the species you want to catch

Largemouth Bass

Micropterus salmoides

Smallmouth Bass

Micropterus dolomieu

Rainbow Trout

Oncorhynchus mykiss

Brown Trout

Salmo trutta

Walleye

Sander vitreus

Black Crappie

Pomoxis nigromaculatus

Black Redhorse

Moxostoma duquesnei

Bluegill Sunfish

Lepomis macrochirus

Channel Catfish

Ictalurus punctatus

Golden Redhorse

Moxostoma erythrurum

Green Sunfish

Lepomis cyanellus

Lake Trout

Salvelinus namaycush

Northern Hogsucker

Hypentelium nigricans

Redbreast Sunfish

Lepomis auritus

Rock Bass

Ambloplites rupestris

Spotted Bass

Micropterus punctulatus

White Crappie

Pomoxis annularis

Fishing spots, boat ramps & amenities

Learn how to get on Watauga Lake. Uncover great fishing access points, boat ramps, and all the facilities you need for an unforgettable day on the water. Some locations shown may border or include private property. Always check property boundaries and applicable regulations before visiting. onWater's Public & Private Land layer can help you plan your access with confidence.

Know where you can legally fish on Watauga Lake

See public and private land boundaries along the water, turn on private parcels with owner details to know where permission is required, and find land-trust parcels that offer permitted fishing access.

Tennessee licenses and regulations

Tennessee Boating Regulations

When using any type of watercraft to access a body of water, it is important to follow all federal, state, and local rules and regulations. These rules and regulations include boat permitting and licensing, invasive species inspections and stamps, life jacket and PFD rules, motor size and horsepower restrictions, noise limitations, restrictions on personal watercraft, and many more. Visit the web link below for the most current rules and regulations for this body of water.

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Tennessee Fishing License

No Fishing License Needed If: You are under 13 years of age (resident or nonresident). A type 022 supplemental license is required for anglers targeting trout. State-wide creel limit 7 trout.

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Tennessee Fishing Regulations

This river has a variety of species and regulations, including potential floating and/or watercraft restrictions. Because this river is specially managed for species, seasons, angling methods, and watercraft, it is strongly encouraged you check all federal, state, and local regulations before fishing. Visit any of the links below, inquire locally, or contact a local fly shop to learn current regulations and restrictions.

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Tennessee Stream Access Laws

On any river or stream that’s capable of floating a craft, the public has rights to passage, hunting and fishing. The question of streambed use on designated non-navigable rivers, however, is less clear, and probably not legal.

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Take Watauga Lake with you

The onWater Fish app keeps this water's access points, species and conditions in your pocket, with the tools you use once you're there.

Use the map without signal
Download the map around Watauga Lake to use it offline when coverage drops.
Log your catches here
Keep a private fishing journal for Watauga Lake to find where and when fish are biting for you.
HD depth charts from Garmin
Find drop offs, ledges, channels, points and shallow flats with Garmin depth charts in the app.